Electrostatic precipitator



3 Sheets-Sheet l R. `lB. RATH UN ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR Filed Aug. l2 1926 June 10, 1930.

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ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR Filed Aug. 12 1926 June 10, 1930.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l sNvENToR TTORN EY' June 10, 1930. R. RATHBUN- l 1,763,010

l l ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR Filed Aug. 12 1926 3 Sheets-Sheetl uhhh 'IHH'I INHll INVENTQR KZMJ @Mm Mmmm ATTORNEY. f

' in movin Pstemed June 1o, 1930 UNITED, srtknaisl lnal'rrzlvl OFFICE BOSS BUXTON RA'PHBUN, OFEL PASO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SMELTING AND REFINING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW' JERSEY ELECTROSTATIG rREcIPITAToR l Application mea August 12, 1926. serial No. 128,781.

The invention relates to anpimprovement inthe art of precipitating solids suspended solid particles which are to beprecipitated,

may be -provided with a plurality of pairs of oppositely charged electrodes at high direct tension. One electrode of each pair of electrodes may be in the form ofy a cylinder ofquite open mesh so as not to impede too greatly the flow of gases therethrough. The other electrode'of each pair may comprise a single wire concentrically arranged in the cylinder. The' arrange- `ment of electrodes is such that the iiow of gas is substantially at right anglesv to the axes of the electrodes, the open mesh character of the cylindrical electrodes offering practically no impedance to the flow of gas inthe conduit. Furthermore, the arrangement of concentric electrodes serves to create an electrostatic field having directions both perpendicular and parallel to the direction of gas flow through the conduit.

The construction of the cylindrical elecbrations will travel to4 the bottom.with as little diminution as possibleand the entire amount of collected solids may be discharged. The relatively great height gives rise to the advantage that the necessary cross sectioniof flue may be obtained with a relatively small lateral dimension, thereby resultingin a great saving of oorlspace or ground area, 'The saving in ground area furthermore results in cheaper construction of the hoppers provided at the bottom to catch the solids, and results in saving in' gaseous streams, in which art the 4 trackage for carrying the cars. to the hoppers. A

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious from the following. particular 'description of one form of mechanism embodying the invention or from an inspection of the accompanying drawings; and the invention also consists in certain new and. novel features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forthl and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse cross section of a horizontal flue provided with an electrode arrangement according to the invention taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 2;

.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical cross section of the same flue taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1'; y

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the flue with parts broken away; V

Fig. 4 is anl elevation showing a detail construction of the positive collecting cylindrical electrode, the middle part being broker away to conserve space on the drawing; an

Fig. 5 is a top view of'F ig. 4 with the negative electrode in operating position.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Referring now to the drawing, the flue 1 may comprise vertical side walls 2 of masonry or other suitable material and a roof 3 suitably -supported on the side walls, as

vby beams 4, all'p'arts being made of suitable material to withstand the flue temperature.

An electrode arrangement is shown for' purposes of illustration comprisin asingle discharge electrode assembly 5 an a-single collecting electrodeassembly 6, making up a single assembly pair. It will be understood, however, that. the electrode arrangement may comprise, if necessary or desirable, a plurality of both discharge and collecting assembliesfmaking up a plurality offf assembly pairs to obtain the desired' e ect. i

Y agree,

' A single discharge electrode assembly 5 able seals such as lime seals 9 which eHectively prevent escape of the flue gases and yet keep the framework insulated from `the flue. The upper end of the depending members may be supported by suitable insulator devicesl 10 restingupon ythe roof 3 as shown. Longitudinally extending upper beam pairs 11 and 12 may be provided to connect pairs of depending members Upper cross beams 13 may be provided to rest upon the longitudinal beams 11 and 12. -Lower cross beams 15 and 16 may be provided to connect the depending members 8 at their lower ends, and lower longitudinal beams 17 and 18' may be connected to the lower'cross beams 15 and' 16.

A plurality of spaced electrodes in the form of Wires 19 may be suspended from'the vupper cross beams in rows as shown, each electrode having a weight 20 at itsv lower end. Guide devices 21'may be provided on the lower longitudinal beams 17 $0 and 18 for guiding said weights and keep- 8l the flue 1.`

5B ders together and to the next -rowby the ing them from swingin The entire discharge assembly is at lt e sa'me potential, is preferabl charged negatively to form a discharge e ectrode, and is insulated from The collectin electrode assembly will now ber describe A plurality of wire cylinders 23 of open mesh may be provided,

one surrounding each discharge electrode made substantially as shown .in Figs. 4 and 5, and may comprise a series of lower rings 24 and an upper ring 26, spaced axially, and longitudinal elements 25 secured to said rings by welding or in any other desired manner. The upper ring'26 may be wider than the rest, and the longitudinal elements 25 may extend through the inside of the ring 26 to be bent over' its upper vedge to the outside thereof. Suitable lower cross members 27 may be provided connecting each row of cylinders 23 together and to the next row. Suitable upper cross members 30 may be provided connecting each row of cylinangle irons 31 secured to the upper rings 26 of the cylinder electrodes.

The side walls 2 of the Hue may have longitudinally Vextending ledges 32 on which may be supporteda pair of transverse beams 28. Supported by saidpair of transverse beams 28 near the ends thereof may be longitudinally extending members 29 which in turnmay support the u pen cross members l30. Thus theweight o the cylinders 23 is f direction of the flow of the gas.

-tion the entire length thereof allowin The present invention provides a struc ture in which the electrostatic discharge occurs both at right angles and parallel to the Furthermore, the entire 360 degrees around the /discharge electrodes 19 is under electrostatic stress, thereby making use of the entire circumference. The particles of solids will be ionized by the electrostatic field and will be attractedv both to the negative collecting electrodes 23 and to the positive discharge electrodes 19. \However, most of the particles will be attracted to 4the negative collecting electrodes 23.

` When it is desired to cleanthe electrodes, the negative discharge electrodes may be Acleaned by lifting the weights 2O slightly and letting them op, causing the electrode wires to vibrate to effectively shake oli' the collected particles. The positive collecting electrodes 23 may be cleaned by striking the electrodes sharp blows, as by a hammer, to cause vibrations to travel yaxially to effectively shake off the collected particles.

It will be understood that the solid matter collects in the hoppers 33 at. thel bottom of the flue and is removed in any desired manner.

It will be understood that a number of electrode assembly pairs may be used in series so that the gases must travel through all wire 19. Each of these cylinders 23 may be( of them. The perforated or open mesh construction of the cylinder electrodes interllo trode vibrations travel with little diminua the precipitate to beshaken ofi' very readi y by a blow at one end of the cylinder.

As shown in Fi re 3 a staggered arrangement of electro es ma be employed in order to avoid longitu' 'nally open spaces and to insure that all y ases must lpass through one or lmore cylin ers.

'YVhlle I have shown and described and,

have pointed out in the annexed claims certain novel features of the invention, it will be understood lthat various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without'departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an electrostatic precipitator, a conduit, an electrode assembly comprising a plurality of first electrodes, a second electrode assembly colnprising a plurality of electrode cylinders of open mesh, one surrounding each first electrode, means for insulating one of said assemblies from said conduit, and means for supporting said other assembly, said cylinders having their lengths disposed transverse to the length of said conduit.

2. In an electrostatic precipitator, a gas conduit, an electrode assembly comprising a framework, insulator devices on the roof of said conduit supporting said framework, a

plurality of rst electrodes supported by said framework, aJ second electrodefassembly comprising a plurality of electrode cylinders of open mesh, one surrounding eachj first electrode, and a framework for supporting said electrode cylinders in said conduit, said cylinders having their lengths disposed transverse to the length of said conduit.

3., In an electrostatic precipitator, a horizontally disposed gas conduit, an electrodeassembly comprising a framework includ' ing depending members, upper beams and lower guide devices, insulator devices on the roof of said conduit supporting said depending members, a plurality of wire elec# trodes suspended .from said upper cross beams, each having a weight at its lower end guided by said .guide devices, a second electrode assembly comprising a plurality of wire electrode cylinders of open mesh, one

surrounding each wire electrode, connecting members between the rows of cylinders connecting adjoining rows, and means for supporting the upperconnecting members in said conduit..

4. In an electrostatic precipitator, a horizontallydisposed gas. conduit, an electrode assembly comprising a framework including ledges, and means for supporting the upper cross members on said ledges.

5. In an electrostatic precipitator, a conduit, an elongated cylindrical electrode ofv open mesh construction, an electrode cooperating with said cylindrical electrode, and means for mounting said electrodes in said conduit with their axes transverse to the length of said conduit, said cylindrical electrode being supported at its upper end only.

6. In an electrostatic precipitator, a longitudinally extending conduit, an elongated cylindrical electrode of open mesh, wire construction, a long electrode wire Within said cylindrical electrode, and means for mounting said electrodes in said conduit with their axes transverse to the length of said conduit, whereby the material flowing thru said conduit passes completely thru said cylindrical electrode transversely of the axis thereof.

7,'In an electrostatic precipitator, a longitudinally extending conduit, a cylindrical electrode of open mesh construction, an electrode within said cylindrical electrode, and means for mounting said electrodes in said conduit with their axes transverse to the length thereof.

8. In an electrostatic precipitator, a conduit, oppositely charged electrodes, arranged so that said electrodes create an electrostatic field within said conduit and having directions both perpendicular and parallel to the direction of flow of material throu h-said conduit.

9. n an electrostatic precipitator, a gas flue, an electrode assembly comprising a plurality of electrodes at agiven potential, a second electrode assembly comprising a plurality of electrodes at a second given potential, said electrodes being arrangedv so that electrostatic fields are created in said flue and having directions both perpendicular and parallel to the Adirection of gas flow through said iiue.

\ In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ROSS BUXTON RATHBUN.

depending members, upper cross beams extending across'said conduit, and lower guide Y devices, insulatordevices on the roof of said conduit supporting said depending members, a plurality of wire electrodes suspended in rows from said upper cross beams,

each having a weight at its lower end.

guided by said guide devices, a second electrode assembly comprising a plurality of wire electrode cylinders of open mesh, one surrounding each wire electrode, cross members extending :across said conduit, between the rows of cylinders connecting adjoining rows, the walls of said conduit having 

